General Information

Missouri State Tuberculosis Laboratory (MSTBL)

Transport of Specimens:
Specimens may be submitted to the MSTBL by a variety of delivery services. Federal Express (FEDEX) can be used to transport both clinical specimens and positive cultures of etiological agents specimens to the MSTBL. There is no charge to facilities using this service and specimens are usually delivered to the MSTBL within twenty-four hours. The US Postal Service and a number of courier services are also available and can be used to transport specimens to the MSTBL. All necessary specimen containers and packing supplies are available free-of-charge through the MSTBL.

Charges:
Beginning in January 2002, the MSTBL instituted a comprehensive change in the fee schedule. Hospitals and laboratories submitting initial (raw) specimens will be charged $48.00 per sample. No additional fees will be incurred, regardless of which tests are requested or procedures are performed. Local public health agencies and tuberculosis clinics may submit specimens at no charge. There will be a $10.00 handling fee on positive cultures submitted for confirmation and susceptibilities through other laboratories. The MSTBL also provides testing services to out-of-state clients; a reasonable fee schedule is available upon request.

Centralized record keeping:
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services recognizes the importance of centralized record keeping and its value in the control of tuberculosis in Missouri. An electronic database, complete from 1988 to the present, is maintained on all specimens received at the MSTBL allowing unproblematic tracking of patient histories. This information can be made available upon request via phone consultation or through the Internet, utilizing exclusive user ID’s and passwords to insure confidentiality of records. All specimen records are maintained indefinitely.